I've never met anything I couldn't sew. Sewing makes me happy. I specialize in heirloom-quality garments and modern but timeless design. I love the challenge of creating garments specific to your needs, whether a tutu for a sensitive little ballerina, an extra tough pair of pants that is soft on the inside for that rough and tumble kid, your every day favorite clothes, or an elaborate formal gown. When it comes to sewing, I make things happen!Read more...

You know that special spark you feel when you meet a kindred spirit? There’s electricity when such souls connect. At Quilt Market in Kansas City last Spring, those synchronicity sparks were flying around Carrie Bloomston’s SUCH Designs display. I loved all Carrie’s work, especially her finger puppet sets and her Mandala Yoga Mat (Good Karma Quilt). I loved that she used fabrics from the gorgeous Marcia Derse lines, which not enough people know about, in my opinion.

Kansas City 2012 was my accidental Anti-Marketing Conference Trip. I went to simply enjoy the Quilt Market Atmosphere and see my little Goodship Dresses on display. I forgot my business cards at home. Rae and I met loads of people, reconnected with old friends, and had a blast. Naturally, I was surprised and delighted (blown away, really) when I received an email from Carrie that she was designing her OWN LINE for Windham Fabrics and wanted me to make her a dress to wear from her own fabric. COLLAGE is fascinating, unique and so, so fun.

The result of back and forth emails about styles, inspirations, and ideas led to Carrie’s Rock and Roll Princess Dress:

A knee-length strapless dress, with boning, a side zipper, and shirring in back, the dress features Carrie’s beautiful Bird Dot fabric in Ivory and some sweet pink cotton trim. In fact, when Carrie wore it to Anthropologie to style the outfit for her photo shoot, the sales people thought the dress came from their store. I guess that means we hit the Anthro-vibe nail on the head?

I loved working with this fabric. It washes into a soft and gorgeous feel, and presses nicely. Quilting cotton is notoriously crisp and wrinkly, but I’m telling you, if you pull it out of the dryer right away, you can wear it without bothering to iron.

She designed her fabric with such love and care; I was compelled to give her garment the same love in the details:

Carrie is a force for good in the universe. I cried when I read the mail she sent the designers revealing that she had truly achieved her mission to enable the inner artist:

“My whole life I have been the artist–even my brand is about enabling the inner-artist for others. But, this is different. In designing fabric, I have become…the PAINT.”

Dear Carrie, you truly have become a medium through which garment and accessory and textile goods designers can express ourselves!

I loved the entire line, so I requested some fabrics to use in my menswear for the latest Kentucky Derby Fashion Party (last weekend here in Northville). Janna was kind enough to rush over some unedited photos of the darling Michael Pack in his Bauhaus Red dress shirt:
I bound the unlined Jacket seams with bias strips of the same print:

I love designing menswear with unexpected details. This outfit was a huge hit at the event. That little peek of collar in the stunning red really pulls a fashion punch in an otherwise traditional outfit:

I loved the selvedges so much that I used them as interior design details:

And I couldn’t resist playing with some of the not-quite-solids in the collection. I used the Charcoal for the inside cuffs, sleeve plackets, and the inside yoke of the shirt:

So, you see, quilting cotton CAN be used in garment sewing; and is practical, comfortable, and surprising.

If you’ve been following along with the Collage series, you know there’s a special opportunity for you to get your hands on some of Carrie’s fabric. Windham is offering a Layer Cake to a lucky winner from each stop on the blog tour.

If you would like to enter, leave a comment here, telling me about your experiences sewing garments with quilting cotton.

The collection is just now hitting the road with the Windham reps and it will ship to stores July 1st. So Carrie needs your help. Please forward these posts to your favorite online and brick & mortar retailers. Let them know about the line and tell them to order it for their store!

I’ve made a few dresses for my three granddaughters and I like the way they looked. The only problem is that my daughters don’t have a lot of time to iron. I do love the dress you made, especially the classic lines. Thanks for sharing and for the giveaway.

I will sometimes make simple skirts for myself out of quilting cotton. I am a quilter so it’s very easy for me to sew with quilting cotton. As far as wrinkles, I always take these items out of the dryer as soon as it stops and hang it up to avoid having to iron.

I’m wearing an infinity scarf I made from Timber and Leaf from Blend Fabrics right now! I get tons of compliments on it. The stiffness is great on windy days, or if I want to prop it up and cover my face more…I made another for a friend that bikes a lot and the stiff fabric keeps it in place around her neck and face. (those all start here: http://primrosewrath.com/upcoming-more-bags-infinity-scarves-and-modeling/)

I sew garments with quilting cotton all the time. It works for me sometimes to use that “stiffness” to my advantage. Little girl skirts poof out without using horsehair, it holds structure and I am in the middle of using some vintage quilting cotton as bias tape on a voile dress right now – it keeps it from being too drapey in the neck area and gives weight where needed. Love it.

okok, enough about me. I LOVE the snaps on the men’s shirt cuffs. I would never have thought to do that on my own. I’ve been drooling over some cowboy snaps on etsy and I see I will have to buy some now.

Wow, I Love the garments you’ve created with Collage! They look fab :)
I’ve used quilting cotton for kids clothes but wasn’t sure about using them for adult clothes (and I never actually seem to get round to making things for myself!) I’d happily use them if they can look this good and am itching to try a staple dress using Collage.

I mostly quilt with quilting cotton, but I have bought several yards of a print to make matching dresses for my granddaughters, just haven’t found the pattern yet. I am a bit apprehensive about the wrinkles, but soft dresses and a bit of care are so wonderful!

I have never sewn a “real” garment before, but your post certainly ipques my interest!! That dress is beautiful – It looks so high-end! Thanks for sharing and inspiring today. I am off to tweet my fave online store to make sure they will be carrying Collage. There are more than a couple of which I will be stashing some yardage.

I have sewn with cotton for garments ever since I learned to sew some 60 years ago. I like sewing with it. There used to be more variety in the types of cotton you were able to buy in the stores from pique to Swiss cotton foile to cotton gabradine. The beauty of cotton is that is minimum care. Love your outfits.

I have been wondering about sewing a dress with quilting cotton (I am a quilter) – and just this weekend I cut out a skirt pattern out of some lovely fabric that I had been saving to back a quilt with. So I was really glad to read your post today!

I’ve never made clothes with quilting cotton, but your dress is certainly an inspiration to do so! Usually I do it the other way around – I’ve cut up cotton clothes to put in quilts. Thanks for sharing. I love every bit of this fabric too.

I just retired from education about 3 was ago so I haven’t sewn in many years but cannot wait to get reacquainted with my sewing machine. I used to sew cute little artist style tops for my daughter – I used quilt cotton &’she had one for every season in Pre K & kindergarten.

I used to sew lots of clothes for my kids when they were little. I just began sewing again this Christmas when I got a new machine, but I’ve only worked on quilts. I hope to sew some clothing again soon, and love the inspiration I’ve gotten from the blog hop. I hate to see it come to an end!

I know it’s lame, but I love quilting cotton. It’s so easy to use, wears well, sews well and is so multipurpose. My kids have a bazillion totes made out of it, and most of their clothes I’ve made is quilting cotton.

I have used quilting cotton to sew simple dresses and baggy pants for my toddler. In the summer, she can wear them just with sandals and nothing underneath, and in the winter we can add a turtleneck. Nothing too fancy, just a nice way to use beautiful quilting cotton for clothing. I love what you have done with Collage!

I have only made children’s clothes with quilting cottons but have a stack waiting to make some dresses for me. I was a garment sewist from way back and have turned into a quilter. Time to go retro I guess.

Wow, your skills are amazing! I’ve looked around your blog and everything you do just blows me away. Love the dress, was thinking of a skirt out of that fabric, now its a must, and the men’s shirt and jacket, WOW!

I’ve been sewing and quilting for many years and have never found a collection as superb as COLLAGE which straddles both worlds! And your treatment in both dress and menswear is about as close to perfection as anyone could come! BRAVO!

Really nice line and garments, congrats to both of you !
I have made several clothing items for my boys from quilting cotton (so much choice !), a Charly tunic from made-by-rae for example, and I was very pleased with how it turned out. I was worn a lot and held up very well in time.
Thansk for the chance to win !

I use quilting cotton all the time to make clothes for my kids!! Clothes come out great! A lot of the quilting cottons are more light weight than they used to be and do not get as wrinkly. I love using them because their are so many great prints!! I will definitely be making some clothing out of Collage; it is a very fun and unique line and looks like it will be so much fun to create with!! Thanks for a chance to win a layer cake!!

I am just now getting back into garment sewing for myself and I have just the tunic pattern in mind for the bird fabric….can’t wait for the Collage line to get to our local quilt shops! Love the dress you designed, it is certainly an inspiration to me :) The red shirt is to die for…mens heck I want one!

I haven’t sewn clothing in years but this really makes me think about starting up again. The Collage fabric is fun and love the colors. July can not get here fast enough! Thanks for the early chance to use COLLAGE!

I have not had experience using quilting cotton for clothing, but it seems like a wonderful idea as seen in these cool fabrics by Carrie. I love the dress & shirt and all the little details that you added!

I used to not differentiate between cotton for quilts and cotton for clothes, and don’t think it’s at all weird to make them interchangeable. In fact, scraps from shirts I made my boys when they were younger ended up in quilts I made for them as teenagers!

What a sharp. good looking men’s shirt! Love all the little details! The last time I sewed anything for myself, clothes wise was way back in freshman home ec, hehe. I have made an jnfant’s dress in quilting cotton, turned out wonderfully.

Thank you, Carrie and Windham Fabrics for a super giveaway and a chance to win.

This fabric line is AH MAZE ING! I am in love!! I love using quilting cottons for clothing for my daughter. I think it brings in so many more design options with the funky prints and pops of color! Excited for the giveaway!

My first love is garment sewing as I make most of my clothing now as I have time. This line is stunning! The idea of using parts and pieces to bind edges is smart! I will try it next time instead of French seaming!!! lovely!

We make clothes with quilting cottons — skirts for me (Amy Butler prints) and skirts and dresses for my grandnieces. Good quality quilting cotton works well for our Florida weather, and it doesn’t get all wrinkled. It is very easy to sew, and feels great to the touch. We actually use only quilting cotton for sewing clothing, and of course, our quilts.

I sewed dresses for my girls when they were small and loved working with cotton. It washes so well and lasts FOREVER! I wear cotton (or linen) myself. I don’t worry too much about the fabric crushing. I’m eye-ing off a skirt pattern and material right now. Such comfortable simplicity teamed with a plain tee, for warm summer days.

I’ve made lots of clothing, softies, and quilts with quilting cottons. Different manufacturers have different feels. I’ve found some that move like a poplin, nice and crisp, and some that wrinkle up worse than linen. Windham has always been one of my favorites, and they really do get softer as you wash them, which can be used to your advantage!

I have had mixed results sewing clothing with quilt cottons. I love to quilt though! I think I just need more experience with garments because it was usually the fit that was off and I just didn’t know what to do to get it to work.

A long, long time ago I made clothes for myself and well, it was just ok. I am an avid quilter and love the feel of quilting cottons. I have made a skirt for my daughter in the last few months and while it was easy, she has yet to like it or wear it!

This is superb.
I’ve used quilting cotton for childrens clothing but never for adults, although my goal this month is to sew some clothes for me so I might be able to tell you something else soon! thanks for the giveaway

I am new in the sewing and quilting field. I have made baby items, aprons, and have started making dresses for my granddaughters. I also am in the process of making quilts for Christmas gifts. I would love to win this comma fabric to make clothing for my two young granddaughters. I am especially in love with the bird fabric. Thanks for the opportunity to win.

This is the first I have heard of you. I found you in the new Stitch magazine . I live in Freeland Mi. have sewn my whole life. Is the fabric for sale at Habermans in Royal Oak? I would like more information thankyou. Debbie

Hi Debbie! This fabric is available in many independent local fabric stores. I did buy the trim at Haberman! My friend Carrie has a new collection coming out this Spring called Paint! and we’ll be showcasing some of that around here, too :) Nice to meet you! Feel free to send em an email, and maybe come to a Sew Ann Arbor meetup some month?